The Charlottesville 29

Where to eat in Charlottesville

Tag: Al Carbon

04/24/2026

Five Finds on Friday: Sarah and Hannah Glatt

Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from The Cville Sisters: Sarah and Hannah Glatt.

For some Charlottesville residents, gratitude for the area’s bounty sparks a passion to savor all it offers. The Cville Sisters have felt that for years: from high school to college, and now as they build their lives here. In their new Instagram feed, the bon vivants share their pursuit of Charlottesville’s good life. “We really love this community and want to see it thrive, and this feels like a fun way to contribute,” said Sarah. The Cville Sisters’ picks:

1) Daiquiri at Bar Baleno and Saltati Scarola at Lampo. “Whether it is a Thursday evening after Lampo’s 6 pm Run Club or while waiting for a table at Lampo, starting off with a Dealer’s Choice daiquiri from Matthew is the move. Then we’ll head over to Lampo to start our meal off with the Saltati Scarola, pairing it with our favorite pizzas, or sometimes a sandwich, to follow.”

2) Hibiscus Spritzer and Spiced Meatballs at Ethos Wine & Tea. “Get the Hibiscus Spritzer, but make it a wine spritzer. And, we always end up with an order of the spiced meatballs. Read a book, people watch, or catch up with friends while enjoying the atmosphere.”

3) Tequila Pork Ribs with Plantains and Cebollitas at Al Carbon. “Whenever it gets busy in our house, and we want something great to eat, we automatically think of Al Carbon and their Tequila Ribs. The whole rack can go a long way, and they taste even better paired with the plantains for something sweeter and the cebollitas.”

4) Chocolate Orange Blossom Cheesecake Ice Cream at SugarBear. “While the chocolate orange blossom cheesecake ice cream is the top contender, there are so many amazing seasonal ice cream flavors constantly rotating through. From the Bodo’s Everything Bagel seasoning collab or the current Blueberry Sunshine, you can’t make a wrong choice. So little time to sample them all.”

5) Iced Almond Date Latte at JBird Supply Coffee Roaster. “We love hitting the IX Farmers Market, and our first stop is always the JBird coffee tent for an iced almond date latte. We’ll sip our way around and pick up anything else we need, or want: plants, pastries, stickers, and more. Although we haven’t made it out to their new location by FIREFLY yet, we’re so excited to check it out for our coffee fix—and grab a sweet treat from Florosa.”

04/17/2026

Five Finds on Friday: Lou Sumpter

Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from Eastwood Farm and Winery chef Lou Sumpter, who next week will help prepare a special dinner spotlighting the women who built some of Charlottesville’s favorite food and beverage ventures. In “How She Built It,” Athena Eastwood will lead a discussion with Gail Hobbs-Page (Caromont Farm), Kitty Ashi (Monsoon Siam), Emily Harpster (SugarBear), and Susan Sweeney (Cake Bloom), providing an “honest look at what it means to build, lead, and persist.” Guests will also enjoy a four-course wine pairing dinner, featuring a menu created by the panelists, and a celebratory Blanc de Blancs toast.

April 23, 6 pm. Menu below. Tickets available here. The Charlottesville 29 readers can receive a 20% discount with the code CVILLE29. Sumpter’s picks:

1) La Famila with Poblano rice, chorizo mac n cheese, and esquite mayo at Al Carbon. “Incredibly consistent and delicious Peruvian chicken. Definitely a go-to, and never not in the mood for it.”

2) Narragansett and a Shot of Whiskey or Fernet Branca at Dürty Nelly’s. “Best bar ever, best bartenders, amazing vibes, perfect watering hole, and open all day.”

3) Meze Trio and a Smyrna Sour at Smyrna. “Amazing food and cocktail program. Meze trio is a must with any meal there. I especially love the yogurt goat cheese dip. It’s no surprise they’re on the James Beard list. Well deserved.”

4) Pork Hot Bun at Marco & Luca. “Perfect place to hit before a show at The Jefferson or a night on the mall. Fast and delicious.”

5) Rives St. Lager and a Högwaller Burger at Högwaller Brewing. “Great beer, burgers, and people. Great location right on the Rivanna. Perfect spot to hit after a hike or ride on the trail.”

How She Built It Menu

First course – Cherry Tomato Tart (Eastwood & Caromont)

• Caromont fresh goat cheese, roasted tomatoes, white soy sauce, herbs

Second course- Tropical Salad (Monsoon Siam)

• Mixed tropical fruit, rainbow tomatoes, shrimp, Asian green bean, cashew, cilantro lime dressing, fried taro basket

Third course – Curry (Monsoon Siam)

• Braised chuck roast, yellow curry, pumpkin puree, bokchoi, pickled radish and carrots, fried onion, mint relish.

Fourth course – Strawberry Belle Cake (Cake Bloom) and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream (SugarBear)

• Almond cake/St Germain strawberries/cream with vanilla bean ice cream

03/14/2025

Five Finds on Friday: Jackie Bontjes

Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from The Wine Guild’s and Oakencroft Farm & Winery’s Jackie Bontjes, who just earned her WSET II With Distinction. In celebration, below Bontjes has selected five of her favorite Charlottesville foods. Meanwhile Bontjes has begun writing wine recommendations for The Wine Guild members, like this one. Join here to receive yours. Bontjes’s picks:

1) El Cubano at Guajiros. “Growing up in South Florida I was so lucky to be in an area that had incredible Cuban food. When I moved to Virginia it became the thing that I missed the most. Guajiros’ El Cubano is a classic, even bringing their bread in from Florida to give it that true taste and texture.”

2) Spicy Eggplant at Tangerines Kitchen. “The perfect blend of flavor and heat, the fried tofu in the dish is so incredibly well done that you don’t even need the meat. I ordered it on a whim one night, breaking away from my usual Red Curry or Drunken Noodles order, and kept coming back to it.”

3) Fried Catfish at Harold’s Chicken. “Fried catfish is another nostalgia meal for me. My dad grew up eating it with fresh catfish caught on the Illinois River near his hometown of Havana, Illinois, and so it was always special when he’d make it for us. Their fish is always perfectly done and brings me right back to childhood dinners and cooking with my dad.”

4) Rotisserie Chicken con Esquites y Platanos at Al Carbon. “Their rotisserie chicken stays at the top of my list for an easy dinner. It is always perfectly flavored and never overcooked. Pair it with the esquites — with mayo, trust me — and their fried plantains for the perfect meal. I always get the chipotle crema for a little extra kick.”

5) Tres Leches Cake at Baker No Bakery. “Trying to pick just one thing that Chris does well is kind of impossible. She’s an absolute wizard with flavor and watching her growth has been an absolute joy. She’s the reason I found the Wine Guild and helped set me on the journey I’m on, and I couldn’t be more grateful to her and her absolutely incredible pastries. Her tres leches cake that she puts together with seasonal produce and decorations is the perfect dessert to share for an occasion.”